LASIK & Vision Correction Surgery

Researching LASIK and vision correction surgery options, centers and physicians can be overwhelming. From deciding which treatment is right for your individual visual impairment, to determining who will provide the surgery can be a difficult process.

At the Moran Eye Center, we can help answer questions and provide options. Our refractive surgery program is known for its comprehensive and conservative approach to laser and non-laser vision correction. Our center's refractive surgery program is committed to educating patients about the risks and benefits of vision correction surgery and help determine what's best for you.

Our program is recognized as a regional referral center for patients with complex LASIK cases or who have experienced complications following refractive surgery. The Moran Eye Center is one of the top eye care and vision research centers in the world and the largest eye center between Texas and the West Coast. We are leaders and pioneers in the field of eye care, specifically refractive surgery and LASIK.

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The John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah is conducting a new study for participants interested in vision correction surgery, specifically LASIK and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). The study will measure corneal strength before and after surgery to determine if either LASIK or PRK has a greater effect on the cornea.

Patients will receive either LASIK or PRK surgery based on an informed personal decision and with the recommendation of the surgeon at preoperative screening. Patients will have their corneal strength measured prior to refractive surgery, postoperatively at three months, six months, and at one year.

The corneal strength is measured by applying a metered puff of air to the cornea, similar to a glaucoma test. The eye's response to the air-puff is used to measure it's strength. The test takes seconds and is completely painless.

Those interested in participating in the study must be 21 years or older and females may not be pregnant. Participants will be eligible for a reduced study fee for their surgery and post-operative care. For more information or to participate, please call 801-585-3937.

The John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah is conducting two new studies for participants interested in vision correction surgery, specifically LASIK and Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). These studies allow patients to receive surgery at a discounted rate:

1. PRK steroid study:

In photo-ablation procedures, a laser is used to sculpt corneal tissue to correct refractive error and help improve your vision. During Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), the surface epithelium is removed, and the laser energy is applied to reshape the underlying corneal stroma. This procedure is FDA approved and used widely. Corneal haze, in which the cornea becomes cloudy, is a rare but well-known potential complication of PRK. Topical ophthalmic corticosteroids are routinely prescribed by most surgeons postoperatively to help prevent this complication.

Goals of topical steroid use after PRK include effective modulation of the healing response to prevent corneal haze while at the same time minimizing side effects, such as intraocular pressure elevation. There are several different commercially available topical steroids. In the ophthalmic literature, there is currently no consensus on a standard regimen or which type of corticosteroid should be used after PRK.

We are conducting a prospective, randomized trial to compare the incidence of intraocular pressure rise and visually significant postoperative corneal haze after PRK with the use of different commercially available routinely used topical corticosteroids. If no difference in efficacy or safety is detected between the study groups, this study will support the use of either steroid regimen in patients after PRK. If there is a major difference in the efficacy or safety of these two regimens, this could influence post-refractive surgery treatment practices.

2. LASIK flap study :

Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) has become the preferred corneal procedure to correct certain refractive errors. Refractive errors are errors in the focusing of the light by the eye. One of the major advancements in LASIK has been the introduction of Femtosecond Laser technology for flap creation. The flap is created to allow the surgeon to access the cornea directly.

The Femtosecond Laser technology provides different parameters and settings that can be changed according to the surgeon's preference. One such parameter is the side-cut angle. Currently, there are no studies comparing the safety and efficacy of the 70 and 110 side-cut angles in FS-LASIK.

The purpose of this study is to compare 70 and 110 degrees side-cut angles on the same patient undergoing FS-LASIK. Performing different side-cut angles on a same individual will allow a direct comparison of outcomes. We hope this study will improve patient care for people who receive LASIK in the future.